Itália recebe os seus primeiros 2 de 4 EH101 para apoio a assaltos anfíbios e operações especiais
Actually the MMI has in service 20 helicopters of the class AW-101 that are:
- 8 ASW (Anti submarine)
- 4 HEW (Helicopter Early Warning) used onboard aircraft carriers
- 4 TTH
- 4 ASH
4 more are in option for MMI and probably 8 will be in service in the future in the italian air force (AMI) in the CSAR version.
AW-101 (formerly EH-101) are produced by AgustaWestland in Cascina Costa (North of Italy) and Yeovil (Uk).
The project of the AW-101 was born under a requirement of italian and british navies by the 2 firms Agusta (IT) and Westland (Uk). Today the 2 merged under the common AgustaWestland and are 100% property of the italian Finmeccanica.
The AW-101 in service in the Royal Navy are well known has 'Merlin'.
AW-101 ASW in service in MMI:
Others helicopters in service in the MM are:
-56 AB212
-36 SH3D
This helicopters will be soon replaced with new 56 NH-90.
Helicopters and aircraft of MM (17 AV8B+, Piaggio P180 and Atlantic) represent the naval aviation or 'Aviazione Navale' of the italian navy.
Here the link of MM webpage
http://www.marina.difesa.it/aeromobili/index.aspPiaggio P180:
NH-90:
SH3D: